Experts highlight AI’s transformative potential for empowering Nigerian non-profits
By Chinenye Anuforo
At the inaugural AI for Social Good Summit held recently in Lagos, experts underscored the significance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for non-profits. Co-hosted by Microsoft and Data Science Nigeria (DSN), the event gathered leaders from diverse sectors and NGOs at Microsoft’s Lagos office, highlighting AI’s potential to drive social impact.
The summit showcased the transformative potential of AI for good social initiatives, showing that AI presents a powerful instrument for non-profit organisations to significantly amplify the scale and impact of their interventions.
The technology has the capacity to address critical social and economic challenges in areas such as healthcare, finance, agriculture, and education. The summit underscored the significance of AI, particularly for resource-constrained countries like Nigeria, by demonstrating its potential to enhance efficiency and broaden social impact.
Reaffirming Microsoft’s commitment to fostering AI adoption within the non-profit sector, Ms. Winnie Karanu, Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) Philanthropies Lead at Microsoft, explained that AI can be a powerful force for good in Nigeria.
“It possesses the potential to resolve some of the nation’s most pressing challenges. To that end, we are dedicated to equipping non-profit organizations with the requisite AI tools and knowledge to maximize their impact and forge a more sustainable future for all”, she added.
An engaging panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Data Science Nigeria, centered on the ethical development and practical applications of AI for social good.
The panel comprised prominent figures like; Dr. Oladipupo Sennaike, a senior lecturer at the University of Lagos and co-lead of the EduAI Hub; Ms. Odunayo Sanya, Executive Director of MTN Foundation; Dr. Frederick Atenaga, an information management expert specializing in humanitarian affairs; and Mr. Sunday Taiwo, Head ICT and Vice President of GIEVA, a grant recipient from Microsoft and DataDotOrg.
Summit participants actively engaged in hands-on workshops designed to equip them with practical AI skills applicable within their respective organizations. These sessions explored cutting-edge digital tools that can amplify the social impact of non-profits. Examples included applications for fundraising, program development, human resource management, outreach optimization, and personalized donor management.
Reliance Infosystems Limited, a Microsoft Tech for Social Impact Partner, showcased innovative solutions built on Microsoft business applications. Their focus areas encompassed volunteer management, fundraising and engagement strategies, and program impact dashboards.
Microsoft and DSN share a common vision of ensuring digital inclusivity and equipping non-profit organizations with the necessary skillsets. This mission is bolstered by Microsoft’s Philanthropies team, which collaborates with the Nigerian government to provide digital skills training through the Digital Skills Nigeria platform.
Underscoring the importance of continuous efforts in AI capacity development, Dr. Bayo Adekanmbi highlighted the collaborative goals.
“Our partnership with Microsoft aims to equip Nigerian non-profit organizations with the skills necessary to create inclusive and equitable AI applications,” he stated. “This initiative will empower these organizations to address critical issues across various sectors, with a focus on practical AI applications.”
The summit’s ultimate objective is to drive substantial social impact in Nigeria by demonstrating the potential of AI for social good initiatives and offering practical guidance on leveraging this technology for programmatic and capacity development purposes.
